.The scene in the platforms at Roland Garrosu00e2 $ s Court Philippe-Chatrier was actually dotted along with vermillion banners, incorporating a glow to the actually orangey sky rising off the reddish clay-based court.These were actually Mandarin flagsu00e2 $" dozens themu00e2 $" swing in boisterous support for Qinwen Zheng, 21, who would soon take gold through beating Croatiau00e2 $ s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in the womenu00e2 $ s singles tennis final.As she put down on the gunk, eyes skyward and also fists prolonged in to the Paris haze, the winu00e2 $ s gravitation appeared to register: Zheng had simply forged the type of past history that extended much past the coliseum and the instant. This was Chinau00e2 $ s first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sportu00e2 $" and Zheng had created no secret of the truth that the Olympics were actually as, or even additional, important to her than a Grand Slam.Zheng celebrates her Olympic triumph on August 3.Photograph: Getty Imagesu00e2 $ In China, our team constantly feel a countryu00e2 $ s honor is in front end of personal success, u00e2 $ she said over a morning meeting at Nikeu00e2 $ s Athlete House, tucked discreetly between the Stade de France and the Aquatics Facility in Parisu00e2 $ s St. Denis area, the time after her accomplishment. u00e2 $ I alleviated [the Games] differentlyu00e2 $" the emotion, the match, the way of thinking: It felt different than every other competition Iu00e2 $ ve played.u00e2 $ Birthed in 2002 in Shiyan, China, Zheng started playing tennis at grow older seven. At grow older eight, she relocated, without her mother and papa, to Wuhan for far better mentoring, and also considering that teenage years she has actually greatly marvelled at as well as mimicked Mandarin sportsmens, including the ping pong superstar Li Na as well as the runner Liu Xiang, that gained gold at the 2004 Athens Games.u00e2 $ It was actually truly difficult, u00e2 $ Zheng pointed out, remembering at those very early times. u00e2 $ My mom made use of ahead check out on weekends. When she left behind, I would keep her lower leg and cry. When she was gone, I would regularly store her jacket. This was actually till I was 13. After thirteen, my mom decided to quit her project and come stay with me full-time, just to possess far better development as well as much better care. Afterwards, it acquired simpler. And also our team relocated to Europe when I was actually 17. u00e2 $.